2012 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee passed 83.5% of its 315 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.4% of all tests — 4.4 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp and tyre pressure monitoring system — tread depth alone was recorded 14 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 22.4% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 39 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.9% | 25 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 21 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.5% | 8 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 7 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 14 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 13 |
| 3 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 13 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 12 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 11 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 24.1% | 76 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.9% | 50 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.1% | 35 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 18 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 14 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.5% | 11 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 36 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 105 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 107 | 15.9% |
| 120-150k | 49 | 22.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 74 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 62 | 14.5% |
| 2023 | 68 | 20.6% |
| 2024 | 55 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 56 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Grand Cherokee
On a 2012 Grand Cherokee, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (6.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2012 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokees pass their MOT?
83.5% of the 315 2012 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Chrysler-Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by tyres (7.9%).
Does the 2012 Grand Cherokee get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 30-60k band to 22.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 315 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.